FACET JOINT INJECTIONS

A facet joint injection is an injection of an anesthetic with a long lasting steroid ("cortisone") in the Facet joints. Facet joints are located in the back and neck at each vertebral level. They are paired (right and left) and are surrounded by a joint capsule similar to finger joints.

Another term for the facet joints are Zygapophyseal or Apophyseal Joints. At the back of each vertebra are two sets of facet joints. One pair faces upward and one downward; with one joint on the left and right sides of each vertebra. Facet joints allow flexion (bend forward), extension (bend backward), and twisting motion. In general, the spine is made more stable due to the interlocking nature of the facet joints to the adjacent vertebrae.

<< back